Became a member in: 2018
Renewal Date: 30/Jun/2020
We are a pre-retirement couple with three adult children who no longer live at home. At present, Greg works part time as a family doctor and Sally volunteers in various capacities around the community. One daughter lives in Toronto so we travel to Canada on a regular basis and as Sally is from the UK we have plans for a long visit from March to late July 2019.
We have a love of gardening and Greg enjoys long bike rides with friends: visitors always welcome to join the group.
Sharing our home with others and chatting about travel and the world is very important to us so we welcome anyone that wants to visit.
Additional languages spoken
English
Affinities
Golf,
Plants & Gardens,
Tennis,
Cycling / Mountain Biking,
Hiking,
Wine Lovers,
The Arts
MoreLessAffiliations
Homemakers,
Medical & Healthcare Professionals,
Communty Service Volunteers
Profession
Doctor/Welfare worker
Non-simultaneous Home Exchange
Simultaneous Home Exchange
Long-term Home Exchange
Hospitality Exchange Offered
Smoking Not Allowed
Children Welcome
Use of Personal Car is possible
Open to all dates | Toronto, ON, Canada | High Park, Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada | Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada |
Open to all dates | Australia |
Description of the home we are offering for exchange
Our modern family home is in a tranquil setting on the outskirts of one of Victoria's most vibrant towns. It's split level (3 steps) with a spacious kitchen/family room and dining area which has uninterrupted views of paddocks to nearby bushland.
There is also a lounge with open fire (firewood supplied) for cold day cosiness, in addition to central heating.
Master bedroom with ensuit and spa bath, other two bedrooms with adjacent bathroom and separate toilet.
While we often have kangaroos feeding in or meandering through our back paddock and garden there are always kangaroos to be seen at the golf club.Visitors are welcome to check them out, but do give the big males a wide birth. Kookaburras can also be heard in the early mornings.
We have three sheep to keep the grass down in the paddock. There is a very productive fruit and vegetable garden which guests are welcome to pick and eat.
From the end of our Australian summer in March to the start of winter in June is a wonderful time in Hepburn Springs. The bushfire season has ended, the indian summer has arrives and the autumn harvest here is really exciting. The markets (and our garden at home)are full of produce. Crisp nights mean the southern stars, unknown to those from northern climes, are a remarkable thing to be experienced while sitting on our deck or enjoying the fire pit in the olive grove by the pizza oven.
Type
House - 2 or more floors/ Main Residence
Amenities
Entertainment
Extras
Setting
Description of our neighbourhood and surrounding area
Our neighbourhood is quiet, safe and friendly.It's a 20 minute walk into Hepburn Springs and 30 minute walk into Daylesford,or a two minute drive to each, with numerous dining and cultural attractions. More energetic pursuits nearby include tennis, golf, several gymnasiums and extensive bush walking.
The local town includes art galleries, botanical gardens, lake, markets and numerous cafes. We also have nearby wineries, a cidery, lavender farm and chocolate mill. The area is well known for its spa water and bath house with relaxation mineral pool and spa, massage, facials, and holistic wellbeing.
While not the same as English pubs the Farmers Arms in Daylesford and the Old Hepburn Pub in Hepburn are great watering holes where you can meet the locals.
Outdoor Activities
Leisure
Cultural Activities
Transport Nearby
Neighbourhood Services
Our home exchange - places to go and things to do while staying in our home
We are surrounded by the remarkable Wombat Forest so we have amazing clear air at 2000 ft altitude, and there’s no nearby-big-city glare, yet Melbourne ( world’s most liveable city, so they say) is less than 90mins drive away. Yet why go there when Hepburn Springs has just been declared by Trip Advisor to be the 4th ranked wellness destination in the world ( http://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-names-most-blissful-destinations-wellness-travel)? Massages, spas, bush walks, local food and wine....it’s all here.
Our area’s European heritage is celebrated each year in April with the Swiss-Italian Festa. Each year the Words in Winter literary festival occurs in August ( https://wordsinwinter.com/)
Day trips: Within 40mins drive is the 1860s gold boom city of Ballarat with impressive architecture and the Sovereign Hill open air museum by day, with sound and light show at night (http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/sovereign-hill/). 1 hr north is Bendigo, with its impressive art gallery and its working gold mine where tours are available (www.central-deborah.com/). 90 mins to the south is the famous Great Ocean Road and surf coast, featuring Bells Beach .
2 hrs to the west are The Grampians mountains, home to fantastic bushwalking, but the challenge is to get past the Great Western vineyards en route. Don't miss Best's Wines cellar door with the tour of the cellars and some free tastings (http://www.bestswines.com/Cellar-Door). Our fave is their iconic sparkling shiraz, one of Australia's major contributions to civilisation.
Our favourite restaurants
Cafés & bars
Special places to shop
Leisure and cultural activities
Walks or jogging paths
Health or fitness clubs
Interesting day trips
Our home exchange - here are our Preferences and House Rules
Respect and care of our home is expected so please leave it clean and tidy when you leave.
Conditions
Use of Personal Car
Home Exchange Type
Became a member in: 2018
Renewal Date: 30/Jun/2020
We are a pre-retirement couple with three adult children who no longer live at home. At present, Greg works part time as a family doctor and Sally volunteers in various capacities around the community. One daughter lives in Toronto so we travel to Canada on a regular basis and as Sally is from the UK we have plans for a long visit from March to late July 2019.
We have a love of gardening and Greg enjoys long bike rides with friends: visitors always welcome to join the group.
Sharing our home with others and chatting about travel and the world is very important to us so we welcome anyone that wants to visit.
Additional languages spoken
English
Affinities
Golf,
Plants & Gardens,
Tennis,
Cycling / Mountain Biking,
Hiking,
Wine Lovers,
The Arts
MoreLessAffiliations
Homemakers,
Medical & Healthcare Professionals,
Communty Service Volunteers
Profession
Doctor/Welfare worker
Over 70 years of home exchange experience
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